Candelabrum-socket.



E. H. FREEMAN. CANDELABRUM socxn'.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1917.

" Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

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IDGA3 a. 1mm, or TnENToN, NEW JERSEY, Assxdnoa '10 E. H. imam moralecomm, a coarona'rron' or new JERSEY.

cmnEunnuM-socxm.

.To all whom it may concern:

. Sockets, of vwhlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that type of electrical lamp.sockets'employed for candle fixtures, and known as the candelabrumsocket or candle socket.

Inelectrical sockets of thetype referred to, considerable difiiculty isfrequently experienced in removing and replacing the relatively longinsulating casing which surrounds and incases the socket shell and thewire terminal, and in some forms ofc'onstruction it is almost impossible-for the workman to remove and replace this art of the fixture whenwiring the same without damage or injury thereto. This is Particularlytrue with the well. known form of candle socket which has been on themarket for a number of years, and which involves the provision of athreaded engagement between the paper or fiber insulating casing and thescrew shell contact. This threaded engagement, in the old type of candlesocket which is relied upon to secure the casing in place, is generallyso close and tight-fitting as to make. it very diflicult, and sometimesimpossible without the use of a tool, to remove the casing so as touncover the wire terminals after it has once been placed in position.

Also, in -some forms of construction the porcelain or-other insulatingsocket body which carries the lamp terminals and the wire terminals hasbeen formed with an integral shoulder against which the insulatingcasing or tube is seated. However, this is an objectionable feature onaccount of the casing usually being jammed down so tight against suchshoulder as to contribute materially to the fast-binding of said casingand thereby prevent the worlnnan from easily manipulating the same touncover the wire terminals when necessary.

Accordingly, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide asimple and practical casing lock for candle sockets. casing lock is aseparate device which entirely obviates the necessity of the insulatingcasing being screwed to or otherwise Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1917. Serial No. 156,680.

This

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

carried by the screw shell contact, and also obvlates the necessity offorming theinsulating socket body with a shoulder or abutment of anykind. Furthermore, it is proposed, by the present invention to provide acasing lock or retaining means permitting the insulating casing to havea loose and free sliding fit over the socket and which may automaticallylocked in place by simply telescoping the casing over the socket. Also,the invention provides means whereby the workman can release the casingtrom its look by the simple act of slightly, rotating it, and thenlifting the same from ove the insulating socket body.

Other novel features and advantages will be readily apparent to thosefamiliarwith the artand it will be understood that the invention 1ssusceptible of structural modification without departing from. theprinciple thereof or sacrificing any of its advantages.

A practical embodiment of the invention is suggested in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- 3 Figure 1 is a sectional view of a candle socketembodying the present invention, on

a line of section including both lamp terminals and both wire terminals.I

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a line of section including the casinglocking means.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partly in full lines and partly in dottedlines showing the several elements comprising the casing lock, andindicating the direction of movementof thp1 casing toeffect the lockingautomatica y. e

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the casing locked inposition, and indicating by dotted lines, the direction of rotativemovement to eifect a release of the locking element.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the snap fasteninmembers, and the portion of the insulating casing cooperating therewith.

' Similar reference characters designate corresponding "parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention no change is required in the standardparts of the ordinary types of candle sockets which have been on themarket for a number of years. Accordingly, for purposes of'illustration, as shown in the drawings, an ordinary type of candle seekass t s ent al ct the porcelain or equivalent socket base 1 to one sideof which is fitted the usual screw shell contact 2 and the center plugcontact 3 constituting the lamp terminals, and upon one side of whichare arranged the oppositely located wire terminals 4 and 5 respectivelyin electrical connection with the lamp terminals 2 and 3. The wireterminals 1 and 5 are fitted with the usual binding screws 6, and theentire socket structure is adapted to be incased in the relatively longpaper or equivalent insulating casing 7. To complete the socketstructure, the insulating socket base 1 has fitted t0 the outer sidethereof the coupling nipple 8 for connecting the socket with the fixturepipe, and said coupling nipple is carried by a holding flange or plate 9held to the socket base by the retaining screws S.

The present invention relates to the means for locking the insulatingcasing 7 in place. In this connection, it will first be observed thatthe socket base 1 is of uniform diameter throughout with no projectingparts or ledges of any character and having its external surfacesubstantially flush with the external surface of the screw shell contact2.

. Over these external surfaces the casing 7 fits loosely and freely, andto provide for looking the latter in place, there is employed a separatecasing look. This casing lock preferably consists of a pair ofoppositely arranged snap fastening members 10 of duplicate constructionand each consisting of an angled plate 11 having an inwardly extendingattaching arm 12 and an outer looking arm 13. The attaching arm of eachfastening member 10 extends beneath the base 1 and is held in placebetween the same and the flange 9 by one of the screws S while thelocking arm 13 is disposed longitudinally of the socket base 1 in arecess 14 formed in the outer side of said base, and at the junctionbetween the arms 12 and 13 the angled plate is formed with anoutstanding abutment lip 15 which constitutes a stop or abutment for theinsulating casing against movement in one direction.

The outer locking arm 13 of each fastening member 11 has pressed outfrom the metal thereof a rounded and beveled catch projection 16. I Theoperation of punching this projection of metal produces a transversecut-metal holding edge 17 adapted to engage a corresponding holding edge18 at the bottom of the keeper hole 19 cut into the lower end portion ofthe insulating casing 7. It will be further observed that the lockingarm 13 preferably stands sufficiently free from the base 1 to permit ofa spring action so that the fastening member. acts as a spring snapfastening which yields when the casing 7 is slid thereover and therebypermits the catch projection 16 to automatically snap into engagementwith the hole 19.

The operation of causing the insulating casing 7 'to becomeautomatically snapped into locking engagement with the catch projection16 of the opposite fastening members upon a simple straight longitudinaltelescopic movement of said casing will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 5of the drawings. And, by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it willalso be apparent that to release the catches it is simply necessary togive the casing a slight rotative movement with the result of causingthe same to slide laterally over the rounded beveled projection 16 andthus automatically depress the same out of engagement with the holes'19,whereupon the casing may be easily slid upward from over the porcelainbase 1 and the threaded lamp terminal 3. The beveled formation of thecatch projection 16 causes the casing 7 to automatically rise over thesaid pro ection when forced downwardly thereover.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andadvantages of the herein described improvement will be readily apparentwithout further description, and it will also be understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orscope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A candelabrum socket including the socket proper carrying a snap-lockspring fastening member and also carrying the lamp terminals and thewire terminals, and an external insulating casing having a freetelescopic movement over the entire socket and arranged to cover all ofthe said terminals and the said spring fastening member, said casinghaving means automatically interlocking with said spring fasteningmember.

2. In a candelabrum socket including the socket proper carryin lampterminals and wire terminals, and a astening member consisting of a latehaving a catch projection, an external insulating casing adapted toengage with said catch pro ection and arranged to cover both sets ofterminals and the said fastening member.

3. A candelabrum socket including the socket proper having an insulatingbase carrying the lamp terminals andthe wire terminals, afastening'member also fitted to the insulating base, and an externalinsulating casing telescopically fitting over the insulating base andhaving an automatic engagement with the fastening member upon a straighttelescopic movement thereover.

4. In a candle socket, the socket proper,

including the base carrying lamp terminals and wire terminals, afastening member consisting of an angled plate fitted to the base withan outwardly extending catch projection, and an external insulatingcasing having a keeper opening for automatically engaging the outwardlyextending catch proection.

5. In a candle socket, the socket proper, including the base carryinglamp terminals and wire terminals, a fastening member consisting of aplate having an abutment projection-and a catch projection, and an ex-10 'ternal insulating casing adapted to engage with both projections. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. EDGAR H. FREEMAN. Witnesses:

HAROLD PALMER,

WILLIAM P. HAYES.

